African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (1), pp. 015-022, 4 January 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Identification and characterization of strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria from Tanzania by biolog system and sensitivity to antibiotics

KC Shenge¹*, RB Mabagala¹, CN Mortensen²

¹Department of Crop Science & Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005, Morogoro, Tanzania.

²Danish Seed Health Centre for Developing Countries, Department of Plant Biology, Plant Pathology Section, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej40, Frederiksberg C, DK-1871, Copenhagen, Denmark.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: kcshenge@yahoo.co.uk

Accepted 29 September, 2006

Thirty five strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria collected from different tomato-producing areas in three Regions (Morogoro, Arusha and Iringa), representing three different ecological conditions in Tanzania were characterized using their carbon source utilization profiles by the GN Microplate system, and their sensitivity to antibiotics. Although most of the strains could not be identified by the Biolog system as X vesicatoria pv. vesicatoria, the strains were found to differ in their pattern of carbon source utilization, and were clustered into three major groups. A similar pattern was observed in antibiotic sensitivity of the strains. The results indicated the presence of variations within the Tanzanian populations of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria on the basis of carbon source utilization patterns and their sensitivity to antibiotics. These findings also indicate the existence of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria strains in Tanzania that are different from those included in the Biolog database.

Key words: Bacterial spot, tomato, Tanzania, Biolog, antibiotics.